Dry-kiln.



PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904 ITO/769,102. LA FAYETTE MOORE.

DRY KILN.

PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

LA FAYETTE MOORE.

DRY KILN.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

I attozvuu o PATENTED AUG. 3 0,'1904.

LA FAYETTE MOORE.

DRY KILN.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 12. 1903.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

- N0 MODEL.

Patented August 30, 1904,

PATENT OFFICE." 1

LA FAYETTE MOORE, OF OORDELE, GEORGIA.

DRY-KILN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,102, dated August30, 1904,

Application filed December 12, 1903. Serial No. 184,931. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LA FAYETTE MOORE, a

I citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oordele, in the countyof Dooly and State of Georgia, have invented anew and useful Improvementin Dry-Kilns, of which the following is a specification.

. door-jambs.

My invention relates to an improvement in dry-kilns of the class adaptedmore particularly for drying lumber.

Heretofore various schemes have been adopted for concentrating the heat,and various attempts have been made for maintaining an even temperaturethroughout the kiln.

For'instance, it has been proposed to take in air at the bottom andcirculate it throughout the interior of the kiln, the entire upperportion of which was air-tight, and then recirculate the air from thetop of the kiln by conducting it downward through flues at the sides. Itwas also proposed to absorb the moisture by providing a layer ofabsorbent material, such as sand, at the base inva kiln whose top wasair-tight and which had airflues at the base; but my present inventioncontemplates a kiln-chamber which is practically air-tight at the baseand sides and sealed at the top a short distance above the lumber andprovided immediately below the ceiling with ventilating-ducts theoutlets of which are controlled by pop valves which are automaticallyopened and closed by the pressure of the confined gases within, and inmy present invention the only'air admitted from below is suppliedthrough the cracks or crevices at the doors or between the doors andAttempts have been made heretofore to allow for the expansion in thesteam-pipes tov prevent their buckling, and consequently working loosein the joints, and this has been done by inserting in the battery of thepipes a smaller section which would yield and expand more readily thanthe remainder of the piping, with the idea of thus saving the jointsfrom the vibration and strain which would otherwise be sustained bythem. The move- 7 ment of, the heating means is provided for in mypresent invention by a peculiar piping systemwhich admits of expansionand conthe purpose to obtain the maximum heat at or near the dischargeend of the kiln.

It is a primary "object, therefore, of my invention to obtain andconcentrate a maximum amount of heat at the forward end of the kiln.

In connection with the foregoing my present invention also consists inmeans for heating and ventilating the kiln in such amanner as to holdthe moisture expelled from the green and wet lumber in suspension at aneven temperature throughout the interior of the kiln, so that allportions of the contents are treated alike and uniformly and at the samediture of heat by applying and utilizing the maximum amount of heat atthe entrance of the kiln, where the lumber to be treated is the greenestand the wettest, and inmaking this provision my invention consists in abattery of pipes so constructed and arranged that expansion is providedfor without in ury to the joints, which heretofore has weakened them andcaused leakage.

It still further consists in a system of heating and ventilating whichprecludes the pos- 7 5 time with the greatest economy in theexpensibility of explosion-or combustion by the ignition of gases, allof which I accomplish by maintaining a practically even temperature anduniform moisture throughout the entire interior of the kiln, just somuch fresh air being supplied as is necessary through the doorcracks,therefore in very limited quantity, and just so much of the heated airand moisture being discharged at the top of the kiln as the uniformintegral pressure causes to automatically escape.

My invention further consists in certain novel features of constructionand combinaand partly in section, showing the relation of thescalding-box and kiln. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the battery. Fig.4 is=a side View of the same. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of theheader 16 and its connected parts.

A represents the scalding-box, and B is the kiln, the two being locatedin comparatively,

close proximity to each other-say about two feet apartto affordsufiicient space for a person to pass between them. The scalding-box andkiln are located on a suitable ,platform, and the tracks 1, 2, and 3continue right through the two on a gradual incline in order tofacilitate the movement of the trucks 4 4 from one to the other andthroughout the lengths of the two buildings. These buildings are erectedupon a suitable foundation or framework of horizontal and uprighttimbers 5 and 6, respectively, which afiords a suitable space below thetrack-line for the heating apparatus. The usual doors 8 8 are providedfor the scalding-box and kiln, weights 9 9 being provided tocounterbalance them and to facilitate in opening and closing them. Thepurpose of the scalding-box is for steaming hard lumber preparatory tothe dry-kiln process, and by the use of this scalding-box the hardlumber is brought to a condition somewhat similar to pine and other softlumber in readiness to be subjected to the same kilndrying process forpractically the same length of time that the softer lumber requiressayfrom forty-eight to seventy-two hours. This scalding-box may be heatedin any convenient manner, and an approved plan for accomplishing it isto run a branch pipe 10 from the main 11, to which it is coupled by theT- coupling 12. This branch pipe 10 is provided with a discharge-nozzle13 and a valve 14: for controlling the discharge of steam into the box.Independent pipes could of course extend from the boiler (not shown) tothe box and kiln. From the opposite end of the "T-coupling'l2, a pipe 15leads into the base of the kiln B to a header 16, through whichthe-steam is distributed into the battery. This battery will now bedescribed, and withthe idea of following out its plan of construction,let us commence with the opposite or lower end. A- header 17 of the samesize and corresponding to the header 16 is laid across the base of thekiln a suitable distance from its forward endsay twenty feet, although,of course, this, like all of the dimensions, is susceptible of infinitevariation. The horizontal distance represents, approximately, theaggregate length of two loads or trucks of green and wet lumber, andbetween them the maximum heat is generated -namely, at the entrance ofthe kiln, where the green and wet lumber is first run into it. Thisheader, like header 16, is provided with as many threaded holes 18 18 asthere are pipes across the battery, in practice there being aboutfifty-six of these, although I have not attempted to show so many, sinceI have no intention of limiting myself to exact numbers. In theconstruction of the battery the short pipes 19 19 in, say, twentyfootlengths are first screwed into the holes 18 18 of the header 17, theybeing supported upon an incline on the transverse bearingpipes 20 20, anumber of which are secured upon the two-by-four cross-beams nailed tothe uprights. The return-couplings 21 21 are screwed to the forward endsof the pipes 19 19. Pipes 22 22, in length approximately correspondingto the length of the kiln--say in the neighborhood of eighty feet inlength are let in from the discharge end of the kiln, they being placedupon an incline on the bearing-pipes 20 20 and screwed at their forwardends into the return-couplings 21 21. Similar couplings 23 23 arescrewed to the rear ends of these pipes 22 22, and the long pipes 24:24:, constituting the upper heating-surface of the battery, are thenscrewed into these return-couplings 23 28, they resting, like the otherpipes, upon transversely-(iisposed bearing-pipes 2O 20. This upperseries of pipes 24 2 1 are purposely made about a foot shorter than thepipes 22 22 or so as to reach within about twelve inches and a quarterof the header 16. Short nipples 25 25, twelve inches inches in length,of the same sized piping are screwed into the header 16, one for each ofthe pipes 24 2 1, they terminating in alinement therewith and about aquarter of an inch therefrom, and the adjacent ends of the pipes 24: andnipples 25 have right and left threads and are fastened together by theright and left unions 26 26. The purpose of this arralilgement will nowbe briefly described. The coupling up to the ends of the nipples is thelast thing to be done in the construction of the battery. The pipes are,of course, long and heavy; but when thus constructed, arranged, andsupported it is simply necessary to raise the pipes one after another atthe joint 21.

This causes the upper pipe 24: to pull backward a suitable distance fromthe end of the nipple to receive the two-inch union 26 26. This union26, which has right and left threads, is then inserted between theadjacent ends of pipe 24 and nipple 25. The union is then turned and theend of the pipe at joint 21 is gradually lowered until the three leadsof pipe become seated on their bearings, when they will have beencoupled together.

My object in explaining this method of construction so minutely isprimarily to emphasize the fact that the same freedom of movement due tothe flexibility of the pipes and their freedom from one another at thejoints 91 at'the forward end of the-kiln permits the expansion whichtakes place in the introduction of steam to the battery without racking,straining, or warping the pipes, but admitting oftheir creeping on thesupporting-pipes 2O 20. Others have provided a flexible section to allowfor this uneven expansion and bowing of the pipes; but I have providedfor it by giving them perfect freedom of movement throughout theirentire lengths from one header to the other, the header 17 acting as ahearing or support from which point the several pipes in expanding mayrise, as indicated by the dotted lines, without straining or weakeningtheir joints and couplings or in.

any wise injuring the connected parts. This effect will not take placeif the pipes are connected together across the kiln by a header, forinstance,-at the joints 21; but to accomplish the desired end there mustbe freedom of movement at that point. While thus providing for theexpansion and contraction of the pipes-without buckling and strainingthe joints and couplings, at the same time I provide for maximum heat bygreatly increasing the heating-surface at the entrance of the kilndirectly under the green lumber. Also it will be noticed in thearrangement of the battery that an incline is given to the entirebattery in a zigzag from header toheader, thus providing fora naturalflow of the condensed steam to the lower header 17, whence it escapes toa suitable trap 28 provided ther.efor..

It is hardly necessary to repeat in this application what I have sofully stated in the patent above referred to about the heating up toboilingpoint and the creation of steam by heating the sap of the wood toa point of vaporization, I will merely state in conclusion that mysystem of ventilation and applying heat is such that the heat isutilized economically, it is concentrated, and

resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts describedwithOutfdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence Ido not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth.For instance, a number of these kilns and scalding-boxes might bearranged side by vside, according to the size of the plant to beconstructed and the capacity for work required.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire-tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination in a kiln, of a heat-radithe kiln and on differentlevels, the headers located at the same end'ofthe'kil'n and at avertical distance apart from each other equal to the width approximatelyof two loads of lumber, a plurality of pipes leading from one header tothe other upon zigzag inclines and means for loosely supporting eachlead of pipes.

2. The combination with akiln, of a heatingbattery comprising twoheaders located at the inlet end of the kiln, and a plurality of pipes.ating battery comprising a single inlet and 'a single outlet headerarranged transversely of leading in a zigzag direction from the inletkiln and spaced apart-from each other, the,

outlet-header located nearest the center of the kiln, .a short lead ofpipes connected with the outlet-header and extending toward thereceiving end of the kiln, a return lead of pipes connected with thefree ends of the short lead of pipes and extending from the receivingend-of the kiln to the discharge end thereof,

a second lead of pipes connected to the free ends of the return-lead andextending forward to a point adjacent the inlet-header, a plurality ofnipples secured directly to the inletheader and extending toward thelast-named lead of pipes and in alinement therewith andmeans forconnecting the adjoining ends of the nipples and pipes. r

4. The combination witha kiln, of a supplyheader located at thereceiving end of the kiln,

an exhaust-header located on a plane beneath the plane of thesupply-header and at the receiving end of the kiln,-a lead of pipesextending from the supply-header toward the discharge end of the kilnfor approximately the entire length of the kiln, a return lead of pipesextending nearly to the receiving end of the kiln, and a short lead ofpipes connecting the return lead of pipes and the exhaustheader, amaximum amount of heat being ra diated at the receiving end of the kilnand a constant circuit of caloric maintained through, the battery.

5. The combination with akiln, of a heatingbattery comprising supply andexhaust headers, each located at the receiving end of the kiln and beingloosely supported, a plurality of rows of piping extendinglongitudinally of s & I 769,102

the kiln in a zigzag" direction between the specification in thepresence of two subscribsupply and exhaust headers, the pipes only mgwitnesses. loosely restlng upon suitable supports, and

nipples connecting the rows of pipes and the LA BAX E HE MOORE 5supply-header, to permit movement of either Witnesses:

header. HERBERT C. EMERY,

In testimony whereof I have signed this WAT-TS T. ESTABROOK.

